Deuteronomy 20:16-18

"But as for the towns of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not let anything that breathes remain alive. You shall annihilate them—the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites—just as the Lord your God has commanded, so that they may not teach you to do all the abhorrent things that they do for their gods, and you thus sin against the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 20:16-18).

Question:

Trying to see if there’s a metaphysical interpretation for the genocide mentioned in those verses.

Comment:

I know, I know! It's nasty stuff. This is a favorite passage of those who want to debunk the Bible as a whole, or religion as a whole. (I'm not suggesting you fall in those categories.) There is no question the early books of the Bible describe the travails of a nomadic tribe only slightly this side of primitive. It stands to reason that their concept of God would be equally based. Of course, as we're seeing in the Middle East today, the conviction that one's God demands the death and destruction of all of one's enemies is still very much with us. 

Jesus' own approach to those who used ancient scripture to condemn his teachings was basically to say 'That was then, this is now!' 'You have heard it said ... but I say to you.' He taught that Hebrew scriptures were to be seen as a progressive story of our capacity to understand and embrace the Divine as love and empowerment. Unity cofounder Charles Fillmore followed that guidance in his approach to the Bible, as I do in mine.

Metaphysically, I don't think the passage is as genocidal as you think. The Hebrews found themselves surrounded by other tribes and cities with other beliefs, just as we find ourselves surrounded by temptations and distractions that seek to distract us from our spiritual focus. We are to resist 'abhorrent things' because they will prevent us from moving forward, toward the kingdom—the full expression of our true spiritual Being in this life experience. Compromise won't work. Trying to stay spiritually focused, while at the same time dabbling in a few of the distractions, is impossible. It takes us—as it took the Hebrews—many experiences to come to this clear spiritual truth. So it's good to have this reminder—however genocidal it may seem to our ego mind—that focus and clear intention are essential. 

Blessings!

Rev. Ed